The Bronze Age

Ritual

Beaker Fragment, Water of Ken

Period:

Bronze Age

Description:

Found on the surface bank of the Water of Ken, this is part of a
decorated beaker - two surviving fragments that have been glued
together. With a flat base and curved sides this beaker is
decorated with 11 horizontal incised bands parallel to the rim.
Between these lines are two bands in vertical incised lines. The
rim is decorated with a similar vertical line, and is plain
inside.

The role of such beakers is often disputed. The Dumfries and
Galloway Antiquarian Society contacted Dr Anderson of the
Antiquarian Museum, Edinburgh concerning a similar pygmy cup find
in Dumfries. He replied;

"The purpose of these tiny vessels has given rise to a
variety of conjectures. It has been suggested that they may have
been censers or incense cups, or lamps, or salt-cellers or vessels
for carrying the sacred fire that was to light the funeral pile, or
cups for the strong drink that was required on the occasion of the
funeral feast, or vessels destined to contain the ashes of the
brain or heart, or for the bones of an infant sacrificed on the
death of its mother. All these conjectures are equally probable,
inasmuch as they are all equally unsupported by evidence"